All week leading up to the New Orleans Saints’ Week 5 home matchup with the Minnesota Vikings much of the conversation has centered around the Vikings’ advantage: a diverse and aggressive pressure defense. However, the Saints aren’t without their opportunities headed into the game.
Two Saints stars, wide receiver Chris Olave and edge rusher Chase Young, are set to draw favorable matchups against Minnesota. Matchups the Saints will need to take advantage of in order to get back in track after an embarrassing loss in Week 4.
Olave vs. Vikings CB Byron Murphy Jr.
Olave moves all along the formation, taking snaps both on the perimeter and in the slot, from the field side or the boundary side. Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. does something similar on defense.
Per Next Gen Stats, Murphy has lined up in the boundary 53.7% of his snaps and in the slot on 21%.
If that trend continues, Murphy and Olave will meet across from one another on a number of times Sunday. Whether on the inside or outside, it measures up to a positive matchup for Olave.
Murphy has allowed 2.1 yards per coverage snap so far this year on the outside. That’s the second-most for any corner in the NFL with at least 50 coverage snaps.
He also surrenders 1.2 receiving yards per snap from the slot, slightly above the NFL average of 1.1.
Regardless of where Olave and Murphy meet, the numbers suggest a possible big day for the receiver. That is, as long as the Saints can buy time against the Vikings’ aggressive blitzing defense.
Young vs. OL Ryan Van Demark
With starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw sidelined with a concussion, the Saints have a matchup of a backup tackle opposite Young, Ryan Van Demark.
The difference between the two options is stark. Darrisaw has surrendered a pressure rate of just 6.4% at left tackle, one of the best rates across the league.
Van Demark has surrendered a rate of 13.6%, more than double that of Darrisaw and one of the highest rates among qualifying left tackles.
Young was accounted for well by Atlanta last week. He’ll be looking to impact the game against Minnesota. In trying to do so, he’ll have a favorable matchup.
The key will be having a consistent threat opposite him in the pass rush. Atlanta stayed so far ahead of the sticks (only a eight third downs) and the was able to key in on Young without another threat redirecting resources.
